Media Matters Misses the Point on Racism and Black Culture

[liveonearth]

http://mediamatters.org/action/drlaura/
(you can listen to what she said here, it's 7 minutes long)

Media Matters wants to chastise Dr Laura Schleissinger who spoke about racism on the radio, calling her comments racist and "breathtaking". She is a bit feisty and sometimes rude, but I don't think she is a racist. Apparently she has said some things that "attack" lesbians as well, but I haven't heard them to know what I think of her position there. I have never listened to Dr Laura before, FYI, so the clip above is all I know about her. I essentially agree with her point with regard to racism and black activist culture, but it is such an unpopular position as to cause trouble. Most people can't wrap their heads around it. The truth that she sees is that the black PC position on racism has become "hypersensitive" to isolated words/references, and is too easily triggered by comments which are not actually racist. Some blacks become unable to see that not every remark that mentions blacks or contains the word nigger is inherently racist. For example, I'm not racist, but by agreeing with Dr Laura (or putting "nigger" in print) I could be labeled such. Even Media Matters didn't get it. Media Matters is a useful media watchdog that busts A-holes (Beck, Limbaugh) in the news constantly, demanding apologies and inciting public outcries against public figures. Media Matters calls Dr Laura insensitive and over the top. But I think they need to look in the mirror, and think a little bit harder. I would call her cranky and tired of reverse racism. PCness limits our ability to communicate frankly about important issues by making some words taboo. I want the media to listen and hear and report on what they understand, not to enforce PCness.

Comments

[bodylove.livejournal.com]

I think the point you may be missing is that it's not about how comfortable You feel w/ the word.

"Some blacks become unable to see that not every remark that mentions blacks or contains the word nigger is inherently racist."

....I think that was an inherently racist statement...why didn't you write "some people"....of course I don't know your history, but it seems like you haven't experienced much prejudice

Call me hypersensitive, but if someone used the term "kike" I would be offended b/c it's a derogatory term and would be putting me down.

[machmed.livejournal.com]

Dr. Laura might be right on this topic, but she's still an enormous tool. Furthermore, I don't know what she specifically said against lesbians, but I do know that she is generally extremely anti-gay.

[bodylove.livejournal.com]

I feel so strongly on this issue I woke up thinking about it. I think it's b/c I sensed a "blame the victim" mentality that perpetuates racism. Here's an old article that may be of interest to you:

http://www.discourses.org/OldArticles/Discourse%20and%20the%20denial%20of%20racism.pdf

note to self: bigot = forming opinions without just cause, prejudiced, intolerant, attached

[liveonearth.livejournal.com]

Today's subject line on the email from Media Matters is: Dr. Laura quits: Bigotry has consequences.

They are calling her a bigot.

Bigot =

a prejudiced person who is intolerant of any opinions differing from his own
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

A bigot is a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigot

bigotry - the intolerance and prejudice of a bigot
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

bigoted - blindly and obstinately attached to some creed or opinion and intolerant toward others; "a bigoted person"; "an outrageously bigoted point of view"
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

bigoted - Being a bigot; biased; strongly prejudiced; forming opinions without just cause